So much been made of the Browns using the second game of the preseason as their "dress rehearsal" instead of the third game, one might think Coach Pat Shurmur wanted to alter the order of the days of the week.

The third of four summer games for the Browns is at 7:30 Friday night at Cleveland Browns Stadium against the Eagles. The reason Shurmur isn't making this as close as a preseason game gets to the real thing is the Browns and Eagles open the regular season on Sept. 9 in Cleveland.

It isn't a big deal. Shurmur still plans to play his starters into the third quarter -- the healthy ones. He just isn't going to show the Eagles anything they can study on tape to give them an advantage two weeks from Sunday.

"I think it will be more of a lack of scheme thing more than anything," Shurmur said. "In terms of the guys out there playing, our guys need work," Shurmur said. "There are some spots still there to be won or lost. Hopefully, we'll get this team to where we have a lot of tough decisions every year, where there's great competition at every spot."

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Most starting jobs are set, but backup jobs at wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, linebacker and the secondary are being contested. The game against the Eagles is critical to players such as linebackers L.J. Fort and Craig Robertson, wide receivers Jordan Norwood, Carlton Mitchell and Josh Cooper, defensive backs David Sims and Usama Young, plus offensive linemen Jarrod Shaw and Ryan Miller.

Backup quarterback and backup running back were not listed, though moves are coming at both positions. Rosters must be trimmed to 75 by 4 p.m. Monday. All rosters must be at 53 by 9 p.m. Aug. 31. The Browns play their final preseason game next Thursday at home against the Bears.

Running back was a crowded position when training camp began, but injuries changed that. Trent Richardson is rehabbing from knee surgery and might be ready for the Eagles next month, but the Browns aren't rushing him. Chris Ogbonnaya is out with an ankle injury. He won't play Friday night.

The injuries leave Montario Hardesty, Brandon Jackson and Adonis Thomas as the only healthy running backs. One or two of them could be in danger if Richardson and Ogbonnaya were healthy.

And that brings us to backup quarterback.

Shurmur said he will use the final two preseason games to pick Brandon Weeden's backup. Colt McCoy followed Weeden in Detroit and Green Bay. Shurmur did not announce which player will take over for Weeden on Friday night. Shurmur has indicated he would like to develop Thad Lewis as the third quarterback.

"There's no telling what is going to happen at this point," Shurmur said. "We've got a few days left before we've got to make the final decision."

Weeden will take his next step as an NFL quarterback Friday night. He was on the field for 15 snaps against the Lions and 40 against the Packers.

Weeden turned the ball over twice in three possessions in Detroit. He was much better in Green Bay. He had eight possessions (counting the one in which Montario Hardesty fumbled on the Browns' first offensive play) and produced three field goals and a touchdown.

"I'm not where I need to be, but I'm still making steps in the right direction," Weeden said after practice Wednesday. "There's a confidence level/comfort level playing quarterback, especially in this system in this league. I think it takes some time. I wasn't stressing out over what was going to happen."

The Browns catch a break Friday they won't enjoy when they meet Philadelphia in the regular season.

Eagles starting quarterback Michael Vick is nursing bruised ribs suffered Monday night against the Patriots and has been shut down for the last two preseason games by Coach Andy Reid. Rookie Nick Foles will start at quarterback for the Eagles.

Reid said he expects Vick to face the Browns in September. Vick has taken only 12 snaps in the preseason. He is 4 of 7 for 11 yards.